Thailand morning news for April 2

Protesters hit city streets
Just one week after Thailand’s first election in five years, protesters have returned to Bangkok’s streets to step up their calls for the removal of the seven election commissioners, accusing them of mishandling…— Bangkok Post

Thailand elections: What could happen next?
A coup leader triumphs as a civilian prime minister, an alliance of parties unite to stop him, or a parliamentary deadlock forces another political crisis – the outcome of Thailand’s disputed election remains undecided a week after the poll.— The Asean Post

FFP in hot water over lecture
A group of political activists calling itself the “Political Civic Group” has asked the Election Commission (EC) to dissolve the Future Forward Party (FFP) for trying to subvert the monarchy.— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

130 hotspots found in Chiang Mai
As many as 130 hot spots have been detected in Chiang Mai. The provincial administration has instructed all areas in the province to urgently buy air purifiers and increase safer zones for people.— NBT World (video)

Phuket water reclamation for Songkran underway
Water trucks across the island today began reclaiming any fresh water available from residents with enough to spare so that Songkran Thai New Year celebrations can go ahead unimpeded, despite the failing mains water supply that has plagued parts of Phuket over the past two months.— The Phuket News

Pheu Thai demands EC explain its list-MP calculations
Pheu Thai Party secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai on Monday demanded the Election Commission reveal its formula for deciding on the distribution of party-list MPs, to clear up doubts about the process.— Bangkok Post

700 SMEs sign up for single account scheme
Some 700 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) signed up for the single financial account scheme as of yesterday to obtain the exemption from penalties for increased tax liability, says the Revenue Department.— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Fisheries Dept bans fishing in Andaman Sea
The Department of Fisheries has banned fishing in the Andaman Sea off four coastal provinces for three months to allow marine creatures to breed and the ecosystem to rehabilitate.— NNT

Central bank mulls auto loan curbs
The Bank of Thailand could implement new measures to supervise auto loans in a bid to control the country’s elevated household debt.— Bangkok Post (annoying popups)

Thailand debuts in ‘Most Ethical’ business list
Thai business now features in the influential World’s Most Ethical Companies register with the inclusion of DTGO Corporation Limited, marking a milestone for the country’s corporate sector.New Kerala

March inflation 1.24% yoy
The consumer price index was measured at 102.37 in March, up 0.41% month-on-month and 1.24% year-on-year, on rising prices of fresh foods and fuel, the Commerce Ministry announced.— Bangkok Post

Activist’s Car Burnt Down, Another Physically Attacked
A pro-democracy activist’s car was set on fire early Monday by an unknown arsonist after the activist led a protest calling for the impeachment of the Election Commission for its perceived mishandling of the elections.— Khaosod English

EC: No tampering with poll results
The Election Commission of Thailand (EC) said it did not tamper with poll results, confirming that last Thursday’s announcement of vote count did not change constituency election outcomes.— Pattaya Mail

‘Luang Cave: The Musical’ to Star Elon Musk
Tech entrepreneur and futurist Elon Musk will take to the stage as an actor for the first time in July, according to a leaked script of an upcoming play based on last year’s daring rescue of 12 young footballers and their coach.— Khaosod English

Thailand’s PTTEP eyes more M&A deals
Thailand’s PTTEP is seeking more acquisition deals, mainly in Asia, as it looks to expand its exposure to the deepwater and LNG sectors as well as to boost its short reserve life.— Interfax Energy

Wildfire engulfs 14 rai of forest in north
A wildfire raged through 14 rai of a Nan forest as fighter fighters from the municipality and the Pha Mueang Task Force were seen spraying water and keeping flames under control.— Pattaya Mail

EC dismisses viralled news on ‘uncounted ballots’
The Election Commission (EC) has dismissed reports of a lorry carrying full ballot boxes to be destroyed in Samut Sakhon province and an image showing uncounted ballots from overseas voting.— NNT

Provinces prepare for coronation ceremonies
Officials are preparing to hold a ceremony to collect water from 108 sacred sources across the nation for use in His Majesty’s coronation ceremony on April 6th, as provincial government agencies are preparing venues for the ceremony and taking part in rehearsals to ensure that the event will be held smoothly and accordingly.— NNT

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Thailand morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Thailand news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

John is an Australian national with more than 35 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia.

He has covered major world events including the 1991 pillage riots in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010 and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.